Urban sustainability issues — Enabling resource-efficient citieshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/enabling-resource-efficient-cities
Shifting to a resource-efficient society is not just a question of technological change but a systemic one. It is a process that assumes fundamental changes in the governance, economy, social structure, culture and practices of the societal system. This report analyses challenges and opportunities for enabling resource-efficient cities.No publishergreen economygreen urban areasresource efficient citiessustainabilityresource efficiencycities2015/12/10 14:00:00 GMT+1PublicationUrban environment - SOER 2010 thematic assessmenthttp://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/europe/urban-environment
The global population is congregating in our cities. Eighty per cent of the world’s estimated nine billion people in 2050 are expected to live in urban areas. Our cities and urban areas face many challenges from social to health to environmental. The impacts of cities and urban areas are felt in other regions which supply cities with food, water and energy and absorb pollution and waste. However, the proximity of people, businesses and services associated with the very word ‘city’ means that there are also huge opportunities. Indeed, well designed, well managed urban settings offer a key opportunity for sustainable living.No publisherclimate change impactstemperature increasewater qualityurban sprawlsocial inequalitiessoil sealingurban environmentwelfareeducationsoer2010air qualitygreen urban areasurbanisationgreen spacehousingdroughtshuman healthresource efficiencyincomepublic spaceenvironmental footprintwastewater quantityurbannoisethematic assessmentsquality of lifesustainable housingpublic healthtrafficheat wavessocial equitycitiesurban areaspopulationurban ecosystemsfloodssustainable developmentclimate change mitigationurban designclimate change adaptationconsumption patternsovercrowdingpollution2010/11/25 17:23:17 GMT+1PublicationTurning the urban challenge into an opportunityhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/turning-the-urban-challenge-into
Copenhagen, 2 July 2011. Up to 150 mm of rainfall in two hours – a city record since measurements began in the mid-1800s. Homes destroyed. Citizens and emergency services struggled to cope. This is one example of how excessive extreme weather events can affect a European capital – events that are expected more often under climate change. A forthcoming report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) highlights this stark reality facing Europe’s cities and urban areas regarding the need to prepare for climate change.

The report,Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe, acknowledges that climate change is taking place and that mitigation efforts will limit but not prevent it. It states that there will be severe consequences for cities if adaptation efforts are not forthcoming. As cities are the backbone of Europe’s economy, urban climate change impacts will affect Europe as a whole. It provides examples of innovative adaptation practices and where they are taking place. In highlighting such activity the report hopes that other urban administrations can take guidance in view of their own adaptive activity, supported by national governments and the EU.

Providing advice on successful delivery of adaptation solutions to groups as varied as governments, the private sector and research bodies, the report stresses the need to follow a systematic adaptation planning process at and interlinked between all levels – local, regional, national and European - and to take into account a number of key principles.

Increased impacts from climate change across Europe

Events in recent years make for sobering reading. The European heatwave during the summer of 2003 was estimated to have caused up to 70 000 excess deaths during a four month period in Central and Western Europe. 2002 proved to be a record year for major flood events in six EU countries - Austria, Czech Republic, France Germany, Hungary and Romania. The total number of deaths was 78 with material damage rising to more than USD 21 billion.

Meanwhile, the total area, within the EU, affected by water scarcity and droughts has doubled from 6 to 13 % during the last 30 years with related economic impacts being estimated at EUR 100 billion.

Expected increases in severe heatwaves, flooding and water scarcity can all affect cities. The report analyses the potential impacts of expected increases in such climatic events and assesses how the European urban environment could potentially be affected

Copenhagen city’s cloudburst plan

Copenhagen’s reaction to the extreme rainfall event of July 2011 is highlighted within the report. This event really forced the city to sit up and take notice. The emergency services were within minutes of having to evacuate the city’s two biggest hospitals because of flooding and power cuts. Insurance damages alone were estimated at EUR 650-700 million.

The city’s immediate reaction and subsequent planning can now be viewed as a European good practice model. Preparation focused on a so-called ‘cloudburst plan’ containing the following four steps:

a new rescue plan from the emergency services;

improving communication with citizens, businesses and public institutions;

optimising the city’s existing sewage system;

using a system of small canals to divert excess water either to streams, the harbour or other areas for subsequent storage.

Working with nature - rather than battling against it

The new report highlights the need to raise awareness about urban vulnerability to climate change as well as the opportunities that exist. Reflecting on efforts to improve cities’ interaction with nature rather than via additional construction is displayed in the use of green infrastructure. One example illustrating this comes from the United Kingdom, where the city of Manchester has increased green spaces in order to reduce average surface temperatures.

This concept of ‘green infrastructure’ has been defined by the European Commission as ‘a strategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other environmental features. It should be designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of benefits and services.’ (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm)

At the EEA, we have profiled urban issues over recent years – highlighting the potential of clever, far sighted urban design to an audience that ranges from school children to the international press and the EU Environment Commissioner.

In 2010 our living façade project ‘Europe in bloom’ drew a map of Europe, illustrating the relative diversity of flowering plant species across the continent. This project brought together the UN Biodiversity Year and to highlight the potential of urban areas in terms of providing green spaces and urban gardens. For most urban dwellers, the perception of ‘greenery’ in or nearby their cities is an integral part of what constitutes quality of life.

Such areas can improve air quality and noise conditions and despite being highly artificial can, by intelligent design, offer additional habitats for pollinators and birds, help to maintain ecosystems services and thus limit the ecological footprint of cities and provide climate mitigation and adaptation opportunities.

The façade attracted pollinators and butterflies not seen in the city before and was the basis for a surge in interest in the interconnectedness between urban and green issues amongst the international press, locals and visitors, architects and town planners. The project was widely covered in the international press including the Guardian in the United Kingdom, which listed the project third in its top 10 global events celebrating the International Day for Biodiversity.

Making Copenhagen buzz

It even aroused the interest of bee enthusiasts and resulted in an additional project with ByBi is a prize-winning and ground-breaking social enterprise that is bringing millions of bees to the city. From May 2011 the EEA made the heart of Copenhagen buzz with life, when 120 000 bees moved into their new home in an apiary on the roof of the Agency.

In addition to its environmental value, the project provides new opportunities for disadvantaged people who can be trained to look after the bees around Copenhagen. Bybi also aims to educate residents and businesses about the opportunities to contribute to a greener, more colourful and sweeter city. Our Bybi project also received widespread public and press attention including an article in Danish sustainability magazine Samvirke a year after the project’s birth.

Climate change adaptation could provide the impetus for urban renewal and rethinking

Climate change and the need for cities to adapt to it may provide a model for city planning of the future. Adaptation-based urban initiatives need to be innovative and provide multi-level benefits in order to allow for their subsequent implementation.

In general, climate adaptation should not be considered as just a reactive or defensive response strategy but rather as a proactive implementation of a long-term economic and sustainable development strategy.

The floating houses of the new island neighbourhood IJburg in Amsterdam for instance are a response to the demand of houses near or in water. This reflects growing awareness of the need to build away from areas at risk from flooding and is certainly one solution to address sea level rise. This example demonstrates the great potential of climate change adaptation to act as a stimulus for innovation.

Other examples illustrating good practice within European cities are available. In Rotterdam there are plans for so-called water squares - low-lying public spaces which can be used for temporary water storage during heavy precipitation or flooding events. Meanwhile, in Vienna the sewage system itself provides storage. The loading of the sewer system is monitored continuously and interventions are possible through centrally controlled sluices and pump stations to optimise the full storage capacity of the 2300 km long system and prevent outflows during high precipitation events.

Planning for the future

Cities need to adapt, but a supportive national and European framework is crucial in this regard. Europe’s future depends on strong and resilient cities working towards a joint approach to cope with climate change.

The examples outlined above can indeed be taken as sources of information and good practice. Yet, as the forthcoming EEA report acknowledges, anticipative planning has to take place in order for people and infrastructure within our urban areas to be sufficiently prepared to address the risks of a changing climate.

Starting action now ensures preparedness to climate change and lower costs for adaptation. Massive investments in infrastructure are required in cities anyway – climate change adds the need for robust and flexible solutions.

Additional information

Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe, a new EEA report will be officially launched at the Resilient Cities congress in Bonn, Germany on 14 May 2012. The congress will focus on the themes of urban risk, resilience and financing. The EEA report will be available for download here:

The European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-ADAPT) (a joint activity between the European Commission and EEA) is a web-based platform to support policy-makers at EU, national, regional and local levels in the development of climate change adaptation measures and policies. The platform can also support cities in their adaptation actions. (http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/major-new-website-to-assist)

Key urban messages:

In Europe, where the overwhelming majority of people live in urban areas, tackling the interlinked challenges between biodiversity and its network of towns and cities is crucial to help halting biodiversity loss.

Urban areas can be an opportunity or a threat for biodiversity. Seizing the opportunity demands that we mix high quality urban green areas with dense and compact built up zones.

Quality of life in cities depends on the existence of sufficient attractive urban green areas for people and wildlife to thrive. But equally important for urban life are the ecosystem services delivered by biodiversity in green areas outside city boundaries.

Although biodiversity and ecosystem services are global common goods, local and regional authorities have the legal power to designate conservation areas and to integrate biodiversity concerns into their urban and spatial planning. Public commitment is apparent in the numerous participatory Local Agenda 21 processes aimed at building sustainable communities that identify biodiversity as a precondition for resilient cities.

Besides protecting areas, it is essential to integrate biodiversity into spatial planning at regional and local levels, including cities. Developing the European Green Infrastructure concept presents an opportunity to do this.

]]>No publisherecosystem servicesbiodiversitygreen urban areasquality of lifebiodiversity lossprotected areasurban environmentclimate change adaptation2012/04/27 17:50:00 GMT+1ArticleThe European environment – state and outlook 2010: Synthesishttp://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/synthesis/synthesis
The SOER 2010 Synthesis provides an overview of the European environment's state, trends and prospects, integrating the main findings of SOER 2010.No publisherclimate change impactsclimate change consequencesclimate changerecyclingmarine ecosystemstradesocial inequalitiessoil functionsglobal consumptionmegatrendsresilienceoverfishingsoer2010decouplingroad trafficemissions from agricultureland usewaste managementforestsecological footprintwater resourceshuman healthhealthkyoto protocollife expectancyfreshwater ecosystemsenvironmental footprintwastepollutantswater quantityresource useecosystem servicesgreenhouse gas emissionsclimate change and healthquality of lifestate of the environmentbiodiversity losskyoto targetsreachpolicy integrationglobal warmingresource efficiencylife-cycle thinkingfarmlandtemperature increaseconservation of biodiversityecosystemseuropean neighbourhoodwaste water treatmentbiodiversitygreen economynatural resourceslong-term perspectiveair pollutionterrestrial ecosystemsland conversionnatural capitalpesticidesglobal tradeold-growth forestsclimate change adaptationgreen urban areaswater demandgrasslandwaste disposalnatureconsumption patterns2010/11/22 20:09:38 GMT+1PublicationReduction of green cover means higher urban temperatureshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/forests-health-and-climate-change/key-facts/reduction-of-green-cover-means
Modelling studies for urban temperatures over the next 70 years project that in urban areas where the green cover is reduced by 10 %, urban temperatures could increase by 8.2 °C above current levels.No publishergreen urban areastemperature increase2012/01/06 15:38:53 GMT+1SOER 2010 Key fact (Deprecated)Percentage of green urban areas in EU-27 core citieshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/percentage-of-green-urban-areas-1
This map shows the percentage of green urban areas in core cities No publisherEEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).green spacehealthgreen urban areasurban environmentquality of life2015/06/16 09:10:15 GMT+1FigureMilan, Uherský Brod, Nicosia take top prizes in ‘My City’ photo competitionhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/milan-uhersky-brod-nicosia-take
Photos taken in Milan (Italy), Uherský Brod (Czech Republic), Nicosia (Cyprus), have won the top three prizes in the European Environment Agency (EEA) photo competition which this year encouraged photographers to share moments captured in urban areas where they live, work, rest and play.This year’s theme focused on ‘My City’ and aimed to raise awareness of environmental challenges cities face and how cities contribute to quality of life in Europe. Around 75 % of the European Union’s population live in urban areas. Cities provide Europeans many amenities as well as cultural, educational and health services. While cities are the engine of Europe’s economy and creators of European wealth, they depend heavily on resources of other regions to meet their demand for resources like energy, water, food, and to accommodate waste and emissions.

Photographers across Europe – amateur and professional – were invited to share what their urban environment means for them. Participants could choose to depict a European city of their choice to tell a positive or negative story through their photos.

The winners of the three main categories

Leisure time in a city and the T2gE conference prize: Erika Zolli’s ‘Levitation’, a dreamlike picture of a woman floating in a park as autumn leaves fall around her, which was taken in Milan’s Sempione Park (above).

Getting around in a city: Daniel Kusák’s ‘Sunset around a bridge’,a colourful silhouette shot alongside a bridge by Uherský Brod’s railway station.

Sustainable lifestyle in a city: Elena Georgiou’s ‘Burn calories not electricity’, a bright portrayal of a man using the stairs in Nicosia.

Winners of the youth and public choice awards

Youth: Máté Ladjánski’s ‘Together’, a dramatic snapshot of the ‘I like Budapest’ bike demonstration against using cars in the Hungarian capital.

Public Choice Award: Viktória Speier’s ‘Sunrise ride’, a photo of three friends catching the summer vibe around Lake Balaton, Tihany.

Prizes

The winners will be awarded a cash prize of EUR 1000 in each category (Sustainable lifestyle in a city; Getting around in a city; Leisure time in a city), and EUR 500 for the Public Choice award and the Youth Prize.

]]>No publisherurban transportsustainable transportgreen urban areasquality of lifephotographymobilitycompetitioncity quality of lifeurban environmentsustainable livingurban lifestyle2016/10/31 12:17:57 GMT+1NewsLiving facade at the European Environment Agency, with out plantshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/media/pictures/living-facade-at-the-european-1/view
No publisherurban environmentgreen urban areasgreen walls2010/05/18 18:20:00 GMT+1ImageLiving facade at the European Environment Agencyhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/media/pictures/living-facade-at-the-european/view
More high resolution images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45497914@N05/ No publishergreen urban areasurban environmentgreen walls2010/05/18 17:35:00 GMT+1ImageForests, health and climate changehttp://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/forests-health-and-climate-change
Urban green spaces, forests for cooler cities and healthier peopleNo publisherurbanecosystem servicesair qualityflood managementgreen urban areasgreen spaceclimate changeglobal warmingforestryurban populationhuman healthurban air qualityheat wavesforestsrecreational areasurban forests2011/12/19 11:35:00 GMT+1PublicationForests, health and climate changehttp://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/forests-health-and-climate-change
Forests are essential to our survival and well-being. Forests clean our air, our water, our soil and they regulate our climate, amongst many other things. Trees and forests are not always associated with urban landscapes. However, there too they provide invaluable, often invisible, services. Simply by acting as 'green oasis' in our concrete jungles, they offer recreation and health services for many European citizens. How many of us love strolling through parks and green spaces in cities, tending our gardens and filling our homes with green plants? Access to green environments makes us happier and our bodies healthier. Scientific studies show that urban forests and green spaces help improve physical health and mental well-being. With more than three quarters of Europeans living in urban areas, trees, forests and green spaces mean more than ever before.

Climate change increases health risks

Climate change projections foresee an increase of 2 to 5 °C by 2100 in mean annual temperatures in Europe. The greatest warming is expected in eastern and northern Europe in winter and in southern Europe in summer. Heat waves pose particular risks for the elderly and people suffering from respiratory and cardio vascular diseases. During the severe heat wave of 2003, over 70 000 excess deaths were reported in 12 European countries. Air quality often deteriorates during heat waves and thus aggravates health problems.

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. In Europe, the proportion of the population aged 65 years and above has increased from 10 % in 1960 to 16 % in 2010, and is projected to increase to 30 % by 2060. At the same time, the number of Europeans living in urban areas is also increasing. Today nearly 75 % of the European Union population live in urban areas and this is expected to reach 80 % in 2020. In this increasingly ageing and urbanising society, forests and green spaces in urban areas can help protect people from the health-related impacts of climate change.

Urban forests cool urban heat islands

Trees and shrubs cool surrounding areas by several mechanisms. Their leaves reflect light and heat back upwards and provide shade, while transpiration releases water into the air which results in lower temperatures around them. These natural processes can thus partly reduce the negative impacts of heat waves in urban areas.

Modelling studies for urban temperatures over the next 70 years project that in urban areas where the green cover is reduced by 10 %, urban temperatures could increase by 8.2 °C above current levels. On the other hand, increasing the urban green cover by 10 % could restrict the temperature increase to only 1 °C.

Forests improve air quality

Forests and green spaces help improve air quality in urban and rural areas. They extract a wide range of air pollutants from the air such as particles and carbon oxides, emitted, for example, by traffic and industry. Trees also help tackle climate change — over one year a mature tree will take up about 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and in exchange release oxygen. Each year, 1.3 million trees are estimated to remove more than 2500 tonnes of pollutants from the air.

Forest and green space contribute to flood management

Trees and urban green spaces facilitate the infiltration of rain water into the ground. Planting trees and developing green spaces are essential steps towards strengthening Europe's green infrastructure and contributing to flood management.

The wider health benefits of urban forests

Giving urban residents the opportunity and the possibility to enjoy greater access to safe green spaces and to reconnect with nature also has multiple benefits for mental and physical health. For example, a study across the whole population of England showed that those who lived closer to greener environments had 25 % lower all-cause death rates, even after adjustments were made for the wider health impacts of poverty.

Another study concluded that every 10% increase in green space is associated with a reduction in diseases equivalent to an increase of five years of life expectancy. Easily accessible and safe urban forests and green spaces have also been found to have the following health benefits, many of which are especially important for older:

Increased physical activity and reduced obesity

Reduced stress levels and improvements in mental health

Reductions in noise levels — which can improve mental and physical health

Improvements in hospital recovery times

Lower levels of violence and crime and increased social interactions which can also help improve overall well-being.

The way forward: more trees and urban forests?

As the European population ages and becomes more urbanised, the 'public health' service benefits from forests is likely to go up. In practical terms, this will mean that many cities need to extend their forests and green spaces and make them safer and more accessible. Consequently, afforestation, planting trees and greening the urban environment should be placed at the heart of local and regional spatial planning.

Management of forests in and around urban centres will need to be well designed taking both environmental considerations, such as climate change adaptation, and human considerations, such as an ageing population into account.

]]>No publisherflood managementgreen urban areasair pollutionclimate changeforestsclimate change mitigationclimate change adaptationhealthheat wavesurban forests2011/12/19 11:35:00 GMT+1ArticleCities, where the living is good?http://www.eea.europa.eu/media/audiovisuals/cities-where-the-living-is-good/view
Quality of life in cities and towns can mean many different things to people. Finding the right balance of a healthy environment and good social and economic provisions is a precondition. Participants of the 2008 Open Days (European Week of Regions and Cities) talk about how they see their cities and towns as a good place to live in.No publishergreen urban areasquality of lifepublic transportemploymentmobilityurban environmenteducationpublic servicetransportcitiesgreen space2009/05/28 14:42:00 GMT+1FileBerlin park wins award for its soundscape designhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/berlin-park-wins-award-for
A city park in Berlin has won the European Soundscape Award for its innovative design which cuts traffic noise and creates a more attractive acoustic environment. The prize, presented at a ceremony in London by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Noise Abatement Society (NAS), is intended to raise awareness of the health impacts of noise and recognise initiatives that help create more tranquil environments. Noise pollution is not only a nuisance - it can also affect human health when it increases stress levels or disturbs sleep. Prolonged exposure can even trigger serious illness such as hypertension and heart disease.

Across Europe, at least 100 million people are exposed to damaging levels of noise just from road traffic. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year Europeans lose at least 1 million healthy life years due to traffic-related noise. Giving people better access to tranquil places can on the other hand enhance mental and physical health and improve quality of life.

This year was the second time the EEA and NAS encouraged applications for the European Soundscape Award. The competition was open to any product, campaign, innovation or scheme offering a creative solution to the problem of noise. The organisers received 10 entries spanning 11 countries, covering a wide range of initiatives in the field of noise control or soundscape management.

The winner of the European Soundscape Award 2012

A German consortium led by Prof. Dr. Brigitte Schulte-Fortkamp, Technische Universität Berlin won the European Soundscape Award 2012 for the remodelling of Nauener Platz, a city park in Berlin. The winning project had a highly participatory approach, involving residents and people working in the area. Ideas for creating a new attractive park were collected through public discussions and workshops. The people behind the project also organised ’sound walks’ to be sure local people’s expertise was considered in the reconstruction of the park’s soundscape. One of their contributions was to identify the areas they felt were most noisy.

Although traffic can still be heard in Nauener Platz, users feel that the park has a much more pleasant atmosphere. This was achieved by installing devices in sculptures and benches playing recorded sounds of birds and water. The consortium also built a 1.5 m sound barrier made of stone and plants at one side of the park close to playground. Benches for parents were situated directly behind the wall to increase the noise reduction effect. The redesign of the park also included more attractive playgrounds, sports areas and green spaces which increased the lively sounds from human activities.

European Soundscape Award 2012 - runner-up prize

Estonian NGO Ökokratt won the runner-up prize for its educational project ‘Noise is not music’. The project aimed to raise awareness of the adverse impacts of noise among children and young people. Approximately 30,000 children from 214 different schools and institutions participated.

The project educated 100 teachers about noise and its health impacts. The teachers subsequently planned and implemented a ‘Silence Week’ at their respective schools and institutions. The multi-faceted project also brought together many other activities involving schoolchildren, including a research project competition, resulting in a play by a theatre group. Several groups also created noise maps and monitored noise levels in their own classrooms (video).